Ares watched the final frame of the video, the image of Teach standing within his own darkness still flickering in his eyes. A quiet fire burned beneath his calm expression.
"I want strength like that. One day, the sea will know my name too," Ares said, his voice steady with conviction.
His progress had been rapid. His body had grown stronger with every week of training, yet simple drills and sparring no longer pushed him forward. Only real battles could temper him now. He knew he could have defeated Teach before he ate the Devil Fruit, but the Teach who stood in that video was a different creature entirely. Even Ares could not deny the gap.
His gaze shifted to the image of Redyat at Teach's side. Something instinctive stirred within him. That man was destined to be his opponent.
"You are planning to challenge the strong on the sea, aren't you?" Mostima asked. He understood him with little effort, his calm eyes studying every detail of his posture. "Your strength doesn't worry me, Ares, but it is still not enough to face the top of the world. Even if someone captured you with Seastone, I could get you out. What I want to know is how long you can survive if you fall into the sea."
His concern was not unreasonable. Ares was no wanderer, but he traveled alone more often than anyone else. The White Bird Pirates could not shadow him constantly. They watched his movements through intelligence networks and would have to respond quickly if something went wrong.
Ares understood his intent. He paused to think, then shook his head. "I have never tested it, but if I fall into the sea, I will not die. I may be weakened, but I know my body. I sink, and my body shuts down, but the water will not kill me."
He spoke with absolute certainty. He trained with Seastone often and knew his limits well enough. He was, after all, a monster.
Mostima smiled. "Then there is no issue. Go challenge whoever you want. I will manage the cleanup. Teach will return to the New World within two years. Staying in the Four Seas will only bring the Navy crashing down on his head."
His prediction was sharp. A crew like the Nightfall Pirates could not remain in the Four Seas for long. Their presence alone was a provocation. The Navy would never tolerate them unless forced to fight within the harsher environment of the New World.
Ares nodded, satisfied.
Far above the waves, Golden Lion Shiki burst into loud laughter. "Jiehahaha! Teach did well. Much better than useless relics like John and Silver Axe."
He admired Teach in a way he rarely admired anyone. Teach's potential had already crossed the threshold into monstrous. More importantly, Shiki owed him a favor. If Teach had not spoken at the right moment in the past, Shiki would have flown into Marine Headquarters in a reckless rage. The consequences would have been catastrophic.
Shiki was not finished. His contempt for his fellow legends simmered through his grin. Many of his old comrades had grown weaker or stagnant, their ambition smothered by age and greed. John, especially, clung to treasure as if gold itself were oxygen. His hoarding had already caused mutiny beneath him. Sooner or later, Shiki believed, his own subordinates would kill him.
In the end, Shiki valued only two rivals from his generation. Himself and Whitebeard. Everyone else had already fallen behind. But now there was Teach. A young monster with the qualifications to stand beside giants.
On Phantom Street in West Blue, Stephanie opened the Den Den Mushi and greeted the caller with a bright smile. "Vice Chief Aleister. What brings you to me?"
"Stephanie, you have seen the video of the Nightfall Pirates," Aleister said. It was not a question.
"Of course. I never imagined Teach was hiding that level of strength," she admitted, her voice heavy with awe.
"Do you have any idea where the Nightfall Pirates are now?"
"Not exactly. A month ago, Teach contacted me personally. He said he had something to handle and asked not to be disturbed for one or two months. Judging from the video, it must have been related."
"That is fine," Aleister replied, though his tone held a note of satisfaction. "If he informed you directly, it means your relationship is stable. Maintain that. My decision to have you befriend him was correct."
Stephanie sighed. "I do not know how long it will last. The Nightfall Pirates will leave West Blue soon. Once they enter the Grand Line, even if we keep contact, it may not matter. The Navy will chase them constantly after this."
"That is irrelevant," Aleister said. "Maintain the connection for now. With Teach's potential and that Observation Haki of his, avoiding the Navy is easy. They will almost certainly reach the New World. When they do, I will transfer you there. You will rise in CP0 with that."
Stephanie's heart lifted slightly. A transfer to the New World meant a higher position and far greater influence.
Aleister continued speaking, his tone shifting. "Gaia's subordinate failed the mission against the Kingdom of Tirisfal. The kingdom united and strengthened. Gaia's plan fell apart. That subordinate is dead. The task has now been given to me."
Stephanie understood immediately. This was good news. Gaia was Aleister's rival. A powerful Logia user. If Gaia failed, Aleister rose. The next Chief of CP0 could be decided by missions like this.
"Then congratulations, Vice Chief," she said warmly.
Inside Marine Headquarters, the meeting had resumed once the video ended. Borsalino leaned back lazily, trimming his nails. "Young people are too strong these days. Makes this old man feel embarrassed."
"You are thirty four," someone muttered.
Sakazuki's voice cut through the noise. "He must be eliminated before he reaches the New World. Delay only strengthens him."
"It is all Roger's fault," someone grumbled. "A monster like that would have been great in the Navy."
"He was with Whitebeard before that," another officer complained. "Do not blame Roger."
The arguments spiraled until Tsuru finally rose.
"We must acknowledge Teach's growth and treat him seriously," she said. "The real question is how to deal with the Nightfall Pirates. If we attack too hard, he will escape. If we attack lightly, we accomplish nothing."
Her eyes narrowed. "For now, the priority remains stabilizing the Four Seas. The allied nations are complaining more loudly than ever, and our presence in the New World is weak. Suppressing pirate numbers must come first. But the Nightfall Pirates must still be monitored closely."
Sengoku nodded, relieved. "Then we let them go for the moment. Once they reach the Grand Line, we can prepare the proper operation."
"I object." The voice came from Brom, firm and burning with personal hatred. "The longer we wait, the stronger he becomes. He must be crushed now."
Sakazuki glanced at him with mild confusion. He had not even argued this time. Suppressing the Four Seas was the priority and even he knew it.
Sengoku sighed. "Brom, your anger toward the Nightfall Pirates is clouding your judgment. We must look at the bigger picture."
"I will handle them myself," Brom declared. "My strength has increased even further. I can annihilate the Nightfall Pirates alone." He turned and strode out of the room.
"Brom, come back!" Sengoku shouted, but the officer was already gone.
Borsalino raised a brow. "Stronger power? That Devil Fruit?"
Sengoku exhaled with frustration. "Yes. The World Government specifically requested it. It took great effort to obtain and was meant to be kept under strict control."
Sakazuki scoffed. "A pity he is the one who ate it. He will not be able to bring out its true power, but the ability itself is strong."
"Forget him," Sengoku said, rubbing his forehead. "We need to finalize the bounty for the Nightfall Pirates."
He lifted the latest report.
"The title is already decided. Dark Emperor. Morgans made sure of that."
And with that, the sea continued its restless upheaval, stirred by the rise of a new force whose shadow stretched farther with every passing day.